Providing improved scheduling request signaling with ACK/NACK or CQI

ABSTRACT

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there is a method, executable computer program, and apparatus for determining that an acknowledgment is to be sent, and for the case where there is also a scheduling request to be sent, combining the acknowledgment with the scheduling request on a scheduling resource, else placing the acknowledgment in another resource. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention there is a method, executable computer program, and apparatus for receiving information on a scheduling resource, and determining that the information received on the scheduling resource includes an acknowledgment. Further, in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there is a method, executable computer program, and apparatus for determining that a scheduling request resource and at least one other resource are reserved for a user equipment in a same sub-frame, and based on whether a scheduling request is desired to be transmitted by the user equipment, placing at least one of an acknowledgment/negative acknowledgement and a channel quality indicator that is desired to be transmitted by the user equipment in one of the resources and leaving at least one other resource unused.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/290,547, filed on Oct. 30, 2008, which claims priority under35 U.S.C. §119(e) from Provisional Patent Application No. 61/001,207,filed Oct. 30, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL HELD

The exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of this invention relategenerally to wireless communication systems, apparatus, methods andcomputer program products and, more specifically, relate to improvedsignaling of a scheduling request in conjunction with an acknowledgementor channel quality indicator.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to provide a background or context to theinvention that is recited in the claims. The description herein mayinclude concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily onesthat have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unlessotherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is notprior art to the description and claims in this application and is notadmitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

The following abbreviations are utilized herein:

3GPP third generation partnership project

ACK acknowledgement

BPSK binary phase-shift keying

CAZAC constant amplitude zero autocorrelation

CM cubic metric

CQI channel quality indicator

DNA data-non-associated

DL downlink (Node B to UE)

DL-SCH downlink shared channel

eNode B evolved Node B (LTE base station)

E-UTRAN evolved universal terrestrial radio access network

LTE long term evolution of UTRAN (E-UTRAN)

NACK negative acknowledgement

Node B base station

PAR peak-to-average ratio

PUCCH physical uplink control channel

PUSCH physical uplink shared channel

QPSK quadrature phase-shift keying

RACH random access channel

RAN radio access network

RRC radio resource control

RS reference signal

SF spreading factor

SR scheduling request

TSG technical specifications group

TTI transmission time interval

UE user equipment, such as a mobile station or mobile terminal

UL uplink (UE to Node B)

UTRAN universal terrestrial radio access network

VoIP voice over internet protocol

WG working group

The 3GPP has been working on the standardization of LTE (E-UTRAN). Inthe absence of UL data, data-non-associated control signals (e.g.,ACK/NACK, periodic CQI) are transmitted on the PUCCH. Furthermore, ithas been decided that:

(a) ACK/NACK (only) signals are transmitted utilizing modulated CAZAC₁sequences (coherent): BPSK is used for 1-bit ACK/NACK and QPSK for 2-bitACK/NACK. Block-wise spreading with SF=3/SF=4 (pilot/data) is appliedfor the modulated CAZAC sequences. 1 The applied sequences may not betrue CAZAC but computer searched Zero-Autocorrelation (ZAC) sequences.The same sequences are applied as reference signals with bandwidthallocation of one resource block.(b) Periodic CQI (and combinations of CQI and ACK/NACK) is alsotransmitted utilizing modulated CAZAC sequences. Block-spreading is notused.

In the 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 meeting #47bis in Sorrento, it was agreed that anon-contention based SR mechanism for time synchronized users will besupported.

The basic principles for SR multiplexing were agreed to in the 3GPP TSGRAN WG1 meeting #50bis in Shanghai. Reference in this regard may furtherbe made to R2-074333, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG2#59bis, Alcatel-Lucent, “HandlingNAS messages during HO,” Oct. 8-12, 2007, Shanghai, China.

In the Shanghai meeting, the following was also decided:

(i) There are two sizes of the SR corresponding to two states. Eitherthe UE requests to be scheduled or (in case of no transmission) the UEdoes not request to be scheduled.

(ii) On-off keying based on ACK/NACK design: The length 7 sequence issplit into two orthogonal sequences of length 3 and length 4. FIG. 1shows the length 7 sequence 40 with two constituent orthogonal sequences42, 44 of lengths 3 and 4, respectively.

(iii) There will be compatibility with ACK/NACK transmissions fromdifferent UEs.

(iv) Different resources corresponding to a cyclic shift and anorthogonal cover code can be assigned for scheduling requests andACK/NACK.

It is noted that the ACK/NACK signaled on the UL is related to DL-SCH(Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH). In the case where the UE hasno data to transmit (i.e., on the UL), the ACK/NACK is signaled on thePUCCH. When the UE has UL data to transmit, the ACK/NACK is signaled onthe PUSCH.

SUMMARY

In an exemplary aspect of the invention, there is a method comprisingdetermining that an acknowledgment is to be sent, and for the case wherethere is also a scheduling request to be sent, combining theacknowledgment with the scheduling request on a scheduling resource,else placing the acknowledgment in another resource.

In an exemplary aspect of the invention, there is a computer readablemedium encoded with a computer program executable by a processor toperform actions comprising determining that an acknowledgment is to besent, and for the case where there is also a scheduling request to besent, combining the acknowledgment with the scheduling request on ascheduling resource, else placing the acknowledgment in anotherresource.

In an exemplary aspect of the invention, there is an apparatuscomprising a processor configured to determine that an acknowledgment isto be sent, and the processor further configured to, for the case wherethere is also a scheduling request to be sent, combine theacknowledgment with the scheduling request on a scheduling resource,else placing the acknowledgment in another resource.

In an exemplary aspect of the invention, there is an apparatuscomprising means for determining that an acknowledgment is to be sent,and means for, in the case where there is also a scheduling request tobe sent, combining the acknowledgment with the scheduling request on ascheduling resource, else placing the acknowledgment in anotherresource.

In another exemplary aspect of the invention, there is a methodcomprising receiving information on a scheduling resource, anddetermining that the information received on the scheduling resourcecomprises an acknowledgment.

In another exemplary aspect of the invention, there is a computerreadable medium encoded with a computer program executable by aprocessor to perform actions comprising receiving information on ascheduling resource, and determining that the information received onthe scheduling resource comprises an acknowledgment.

In still another exemplary aspect of the invention, there is anapparatus comprising a receiver, the receiver configured to receiveinformation on a scheduling resource, and a processor configured todetermine that the information received on the scheduling resourcecomprises an acknowledgment.

In yet another exemplary aspect of the invention, there is an apparatuscomprising means for receiving information on a scheduling resource, andmeans for determining that the information received on the schedulingresource comprises an acknowledgment.

In still another exemplary aspect of the invention there is a methodcomprising determining that a scheduling request resource and at leastone other resource are reserved for a user equipment in a samesub-frame, and based on whether a scheduling request is desired to betransmitted by the user equipment, placing at least one of anacknowledgment/negative acknowledgement and a channel quality indicatorthat is desired to be transmitted by the user equipment in one of theresources and leaving at least one other resource unused.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the attached Drawing Figures:

FIG. 1 shows a length 7 sequence having two constituent orthogonalsequences of lengths 3 and 4;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of ACK/NACK and SR resource assignmentsfor UL transmissions on the PUCCH;

FIG. 3 shows an example of ACK/NACK resources configured for 18 parallelACK/NACK channels;

FIG. 4 shows an example of SR resources configured for 72 parallel SRchannels;

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating one non-limiting example of amethod for practicing the exemplary embodiments of this invention;

FIG. 6 shows a simplified block diagram of various electronic devicesthat are suitable for use in practicing the exemplary embodiments ofthis invention;

FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart illustrating another non-limiting example ofa method for practicing the exemplary embodiments of this invention;

FIG. 8 depicts a flowchart illustrating another non-limiting example ofa method for practicing the exemplary embodiments of this invention; and

FIGS. 9 A, B, and C, depicts a flowchart illustrating yet anotherexample of a method for practicing the exemplary embodiments of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Consider a multiplexing case where data-non-associated control signals,such as ACK/NACK (e.g., DL ACK/NACK) and/or periodic CQI, existsimultaneously with an UL SR. Further assume that the UE is nottransmitting UL data since separate SR/buffer status reportingprinciples will be used when the UE has scheduled UL data transmissionon the PUSCH. As noted above, in the absence of UL datadata-non-associated control signals are transmitted on the PUCCH.

To date, SR decisions made in 3GPP RAN1 only cover the case where a SRis transmitted standalone. However, it may occur that the SR istransmitted with additional data-non-associated control signals, such asACK/NACK and/or periodic CQI (e.g., ACK/NACK+SR, periodic CQI+SR,periodic CQI+ACK/NACK+SR). Various complications may arise in suchcases.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of ACK/NACK and SR resource assignmentsfor UL transmissions on the PUCCH. In FIG. 2, ACK/NACK and SR have beenconfigured for different frequency-hopping radio resources. FIG. 3 showsan example of ACK/NACK resources configured for 18 parallel ACK/NACKchannels. FIG. 4 shows an example of SR resources configured for 72parallel SR channels.

Each UE has certain code resources allocated to two different channels:one UE may occupy, for example, the eighth (8th) ACK/NACK resource andthe twenty-eighth (28th) SR resource, respectively (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

One problem with the considered signaling combinations is related to thesingle-carrier property of LTE UL—it is not possible to transmit signalsvia multiple frequency bands (see FIG. 2) such that the beneficial lowPAR properties of single-carrier transmission are maintained. However,due to the lack of a common pilot in the UL direction, it would not beeconomical to transmit two low rate control signals (e.g., SR+ACK/NACKand/or CQI) via two separate clusters (or via four clusters if SR andACK/NACK and/or CQI have been configured into non-overlapping frequencyresources).

There are some prior art techniques being discussed in RAN1 to avoid themulticarrier/multi-cluster transmission in the presence of a SR:

(a) One technique is to prioritize a predetermined signaling type (e.g.,ACK/NACK instead of SR or SR instead of CQI). This means that when twosignaling types exist in a same subframe, only the signaling type withthe higher priority is transmitted whereas the lower priority signalingis not transmitted at all. One problem with this approach is theincreased SR (or CQI) delay. This delay may be significant, for example,in a VoIP application.(b) Periodic CQI+SR: The idea would be to arrange the periodic CQIreporting and SR signaling in such a way that they do not appear in asame subframe. One problem with this approach is that the arrangementwill introduce limitations for either SR or CQI signaling. This may alsobe difficult to arrange as the periodicity of SR and CQI may not be thesame.(c) ACK/NACK+SR: It is possible to avoid this situation by introducingcertain scheduler limitations for UEs being allocated for the given SRresource (i.e., do not allocate DL data for a time resource which willcause an ACK/NACK transmission to occur for a TTI in which the UE hassimultaneous SR transmission).(d) It would also be possible to develop a special multiplexing schemefor different alternatives (e.g., different schemes for ACK/NACK+SR,periodic CQI+SR, ACK/NACK+periodic CQI+SR). Problems with this approachare related to link performance (modulation method) and/or resourceallocation (multicode method, sequence selection method). Reference withregard to this technique may be made to commonly-owned U.S. provisionalpatent application No. 60/936,033, “Multiplexing of Scheduling Requestand ACK/NACK and/or CQI Transmitted on PUCCH” by Tiirola et al. filed onJun. 18, 2007. Further reference in this regard may be made toR2-074139, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG2#59bis, NEC, “X2 downlink forwarding delay,”Oct. 8-12, 2007, Shanghai, China.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide improved techniques forsignaling a SR with an ACK/NACK and/or CQI. In some exemplaryembodiments, different multiplexing procedures are provided for caseswith positive SR than for cases with negative SR. In accordance with the3GPP TSG-RAN WG1#50bis Shanghai decisions, when the SR is transmittedstandalone, only positive SRs are signaled (i.e., there is notransmission for negative SR).

In one, non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the invention:

(i) For negative SR, the ACK/NACK and/or CQI are signaled using originalACK/NACK (ACK/NACK PUCCH) and/or CQI resources (CQI PUCCH).

(ii) For positive SR, the ACK/NACK signal is transmitted using the SRresources (SR PUCCH). Transmission of the ACK/NACK on the SR resource(s)can be performed in a similar way to when ACK/NACK is transmitted on theACK/NACK resource (unmodulated sequence 1 and modulated sequence 2 orunmodulated sequence 1 and unmodulated sequence 2). In this case, theACK/NACK resource (ACK/NACK PUCCH) is left unused.(iii) For positive SR without a simultaneous ACK/NACK signal, the SRsignal is transmitted using the original SR resource(s), SR PUCCH. Thesimultaneous CQI is dropped (i.e., not transmitted) and the CQIresource(s), (CQI PUCCH) is left unused.

In such a manner, simultaneous transmission of ACK/NACK and (positive)SR is supported whereas there is no provision for simultaneoustransmission of (positive) SR and CQI.

It is briefly noted that, as utilized herein, “positive SR” signifiesthat the UE desires to transmit a SR (e.g., to a Node B). Similarly,“negative SR” indicates that the UE does not desire to transmit a SR(e.g., to a Node B). Any reference to “resource” should be construed ascovering a single resource or multiple resources assigned for thespecified signaling.

With a negative SR, it is possible to signal the ACK/NACK and/or CQIusing the original resources allocated for ACK/NACK or CQI,respectively. The SR resource(s) is left (SR PUCCH) unused. Thus, thefollowing hold: If there is a negative SR and an ACK/NACK, transmit theACK/NACK using only the original ACK/NACK resource(s), ACK/NACK PUCCH.If there is a negative SR and a CQI (e.g., periodic CQI), transmit theCQI using only the original CQI resource(s), CQI PUCCH. If there is anegative SR and both ACK/NACK and a CQI, transmit the ACK/NACK and CQIusing only the original ACK/NACK and CQI resources, CQI PUCCHrespectively.

As noted above, with a positive SR, simultaneous transmission ofACK/NACK and SR is supported whereas there is no support forsimultaneous transmission of CQI and SR. Simultaneous transmission ofACK/NACK and positive SR is performed using the SR resource(s), SRPUCCH. Thus, the following procedures are applied:

If there is a positive SR and an ACK/NACK, signal the ACK/NACK using theexisting SR resource(s), SR PUCCH. The ACK/NACK resource(s), ACK/NACKPUCCH, are left unused. The ACK/NACK can be transmitted similarly towhen it is transmitted on its own resource (e.g., unmodulated sequence1, BPSK/QPSK-modulated sequence 2).

If there is a positive SR and a CQI (e.g., periodic CQI), the SR isprioritized over the CQI. That is, transmit the SR using only theoriginal SR resource (e.g., on the PUCCH). The CQI resource, CQI PUCCHis left unused.

If there is a positive SR and both ACK/NACK and CQI, the ACK/NACK issignaled using only the original SR resource (e.g., on the PUCCH). TheCQI resource, CQI PUCCH is left unused and the CQI is not transmitted.The ACK/NACK can be transmitted similarly to when it is transmitted onits own resource (e.g., unmodulated sequence 1, BPSK/QPSK-modulatedsequence 2).

On the Node B side, the Node B is responsible for the UL/DL resourceallocation (e.g., for CQI, DL data and ACK/NACK, SR). Therefore, theNode B can receive the ACK/NACK, CQI and SR from the various resources,taking into account the different UE operation in light of positive ornegative SR.

In further exemplary embodiments, the Node B can modify the above-statedprioritizations, for example, using RRC signaling (e.g., cell-specific,UE-specific). In such a manner, and as a non-limiting example, the NodeB could modify the prioritization such that CQI is prioritized overACK/NACK.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating one non-limiting example of amethod for practicing the exemplary embodiments of this invention. Inbox 52, it is determined whether there is a positive SR (“YES”) or anegative SR (“NO”). If there is a negative SR, the method proceeds toboxes 54 and 56. In box 54, if there is an ACK/NACK (w/o CQI), theACK/NACK is transmitted using ACK/NACK resources and the SR resourcesare unused. In box 56, if there is a CQI (with or without ACK/NACK), theCQI (or CQI+ACK/NACK) is transmitted using CQI resources, CQI PUCCH, andthe SR resources (and ACK/NACK PUCCH) are unused. If there is a positiveSR (“YES” for box 52), the method proceeds to box 58. In box 58, it isdetermined whether ACK/NACK is present (“YES”) or not (“NO”). IfACK/NACK is not present (“NO” for box 58), then in box 60 the SR istransmitted using the SR resources and the additional resource which maybe data-non-associated (DNA) resources, such as ACK/NACK PUCCH and CQIPUCCH are unused. No CQI is transmitted, regardless of whether or not itis present. If ACK/NACK is present (“YES” for box 58), then in box 62the ACK/NACK is transmitted using the SR resources and the DNAresources, such as ACK/NACK PUCCH and CQI PUCCH are unused. No CQI istransmitted, regardless of whether or not it is present.

Reference is made to FIG. 6 for illustrating a simplified block diagramof various electronic devices that are suitable for use in practicingthe exemplary embodiments of this invention. In FIG. 6, a wirelessnetwork 12 is adapted for communication with a user equipment (UE) 14via an access node (AN) 16. The UE 14 includes a data processor (DP) 18,a memory (MEM) 20 coupled to the DP 18, and a suitable RF transceiver(TRANS) 22 (having a transmitter (TX) and a receiver (RX)) coupled tothe DP 18. The MEM 20 stores a program (PROG) 24. The TRANS 22 is forbidirectional wireless communications with the AN 16. Note that theTRANS 22 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication.

The AN 16 includes a data processor (DP) 26, a memory (MEM) 28 coupledto the DP 26, and a suitable RF transceiver (TRANS) 30 (having atransmitter (TX) and a receiver (RX)) coupled to the DP 26. The MEM 28stores a program (PROG) 32. The TRANS 30 is for bidirectional wirelesscommunications with the UE 14. Note that the TRANS 30 has at least oneantenna to facilitate communication. The AN 16 is coupled via a datapath 34 to one or more external networks or systems, such as theinternet 36, for example.

At least one of the PROGs 24, 32 is assumed to include programinstructions that, when executed by the associated DP, enable theelectronic device to operate in accordance with the exemplaryembodiments of this invention, as discussed herein.

In general, the various exemplary embodiments of the UE 14 can include,but are not limited to, user equipments, terminals, mobile phones,cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) having wirelesscommunication capabilities, portable computers having wirelesscommunication capabilities, image capture devices such as digitalcameras having wireless communication capabilities, gaining deviceshaving wireless communication capabilities, music storage and playbackappliances having wireless communication capabilities, Internetappliances permitting wireless Internet access and browsing, as well asportable units or terminals that incorporate combinations of suchfunctions.

The embodiments of this invention may be implemented by computersoftware executable by one or more of the DPs 18, 26 of the UE 14 andthe AN 16, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware.

The MEMs 20, 28 may be of any type suitable to the local technicalenvironment and may be implemented using any suitable data storagetechnology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memorydevices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memoryand removable memory, as non-limiting examples. The DPs 18, 26 may be ofany type suitable to the local technical environment, and may includeone or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers,microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors basedon a multi-core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples.

By utilizing exemplary embodiments of the invention, unlike with otherprior art techniques supporting simultaneous transmission of ACK/NACKand SR, SR, ACK/NACK and CQI performance can be maintained with verylittle, if any, change.

In many cases, it may be possible to configure periodic CQI and periodicSR into different subframes. In such cases, the performance degradationcaused by dropping CQI is estimated to be very marginal.

Furthermore, accepted modulation options may be utilized in conjunctionwith exemplary embodiments of the invention. That is, there is no needto specify separate modulation or multiplexing options for positive SRversus negative SR. Existing data-non-associated signaling can bemaintained as similar as possible with both positive SR and negative SR.Furthermore, no changes are needed for CM properties.

Below are provided further descriptions of non-limiting, exemplaryembodiments. The below-described exemplary embodiments are separatelynumbered for clarity and identification. This numbering should not beconstrued as wholly separating the below descriptions since variousaspects of one or more exemplary embodiments may be practiced inconjunction with one or more other aspects or exemplary embodiments.

In one non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, and as illustrated in FIG. 7,a method includes: providing that at least one of an acknowledgement anda channel quality indicator (CQI) is to be transmitted, wherein thetransmission comprises at least one scheduling request (SR) resource (SRPUCCH) and at least one additional resource that can be adata-non-associated (DNA) resource, such as ACK/NACK PUCCH or CQI PUCCH(box 71); determining whether a SR is to be transmitted (box 72);determining whether the acknowledgement is to be transmitted (box 73);determining whether the CQI is to be transmitted (box 74); in responseto determining that the SR is not to be transmitted and that theacknowledgement is to be transmitted, transmitting the acknowledgementusing a corresponding at least one acknowledgement resource of the atleast one additional resource such as a DNA resource, wherein the atleast one SR resource is unused (box 75); in response to determiningthat the SR is not to be transmitted and that the CQI (or CQI+ACK/NACK)is to be transmitted, transmitting the CQI (or CQI+ACK/NACK) using acorresponding at least one CQI resource of the at least one additionalresource such as a DNA resource, wherein the at least one SR resource isunused (box 76); in response to determining that the SR is to betransmitted and that the acknowledgement is not to be transmitted,transmitting the SR using the at least one SR resource, wherein if theCQI is to be transmitted the CQI is not transmitted and the at least oneadditional resource such as the DNA resource is unused (box 77); and inresponse to determining that the SR is to be transmitted and that theacknowledgement is to be transmitted, transmitting the acknowledgementusing the at least one SR resource, wherein if the CQI is to betransmitted the CQI is not transmitted and the at least one additionalresource such as the DNA resource is unused (box 78).

A method as above, wherein a periodic CQI transmission and a periodic SRtransmission are configured into different subframes. A method as in anyabove, wherein transmissions are transmitted on a PUCCH. A method as inany above, wherein transmissions are transmitted on an UL. A method asin any above, wherein if transmitted the acknowledgement comprises anunmodulated sequence 1, BPSK/QPSK-modulated sequence 2. A method as inany above, wherein the method is implemented by a UE or terminal. Amethod as in any above, wherein the method is implemented within awireless communication network. A method as in any above, wherein themethod is implemented within an E-UTRAN. A method as in any above,wherein the method is implemented by a computer program. A method as inany above, wherein the method is implemented by a processor of a userequipment.

In another non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, a computer programproduct comprises program instructions embodied on a tangiblecomputer-readable medium. Execution of the program instructions resultsin operations comprising: providing that at least one of anacknowledgement and a channel quality indicator (CQI) is to betransmitted, wherein the transmission comprises at least one schedulingrequest (SR) resource and at least one additional resource such as adata-non-associated (DNA) resource, such as ACK/NACK PUCCH or CQI PUCCH;determining whether a SR is to be transmitted; determining whether theacknowledgement is to be transmitted; determining whether the CQI is tobe transmitted; in response to determining that the SR is not to betransmitted and that the acknowledgement is to be transmitted,transmitting the acknowledgement using a corresponding at least oneacknowledgement resource of the at least one additional resource such asa DNA resource, wherein the at least one SR resource is unused; inresponse to determining that the SR is not to be transmitted and thatthe CQI (or CQI+ACK/NACK) is to be transmitted, transmitting the CQI (orCQI+ACK/NACK) using a corresponding at least one CQI resource of the atleast one additional resource such as a DNA resource, wherein the atleast one SR resource is unused; in response to determining that the SRis to be transmitted and that the acknowledgement is not to betransmitted, transmitting the SR using the at least one SR resource,wherein if the CQI is to be transmitted the CQI is not transmitted andthe at least one additional resource such as a DNA resource is unused;and in response to determining that the SR is to be transmitted and thatthe acknowledgement is to be transmitted, transmitting theacknowledgement using the at least one SR resource, wherein if the CQIis to be transmitted the CQI is not transmitted and the at least oneadditional resource such as a DNA resource is unused.

A computer program as above, wherein a periodic CQI transmission and aperiodic SR transmission are configured into different sub-frames. Acomputer program as in any above, wherein transmissions are transmittedon a PUCCH. A computer program as in any above, wherein transmissionsare transmitted on an UL. A computer program as in any above, wherein iftransmitted the acknowledgement comprises an unmodulated sequence 1,BPSK/QPSK-modulated sequence 2. A computer program as in any above,wherein the method is implemented by a UE or terminal. A computerprogram as in any above, wherein the computer program is implementedwithin a wireless communication network. A computer program as in anyabove, wherein the computer program is implemented within an E-UTRAN.

In another non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, an apparatus comprising:a transceiver configured to transmit at least one of an acknowledgementand a channel quality indicator (CQI), wherein the transmissioncomprises at least one scheduling request (SR), SR PUCCH resource and atleast one additional resource which may be a data-non-associated (DNA)resource, such as ACK/NACK PUCCH or CQI PUCCH; and a processorconfigured to determine whether a SR is to be transmitted, to determinewhether the acknowledgement is to be transmitted, and to determinewhether the CQI is to be transmitted, wherein in response to theprocessor determining that the SR is not to be transmitted and that theacknowledgement is to be transmitted, the transceiver is configured totransmit the acknowledgement using a corresponding at least oneacknowledgement resource of the at least one additional resource such asa DNA resource and wherein the at least one SR resource is unused,wherein in response to the processor determining that the SR is not tobe transmitted and that the CQI is to be transmitted, the transceiver isconfigured to transmit the CQI using a corresponding at least one CQIresource of the at least one additional resource such as a DNA resourceand wherein the at least one SR resource is unused, wherein in responseto the processor determining that the SR is to be transmitted and thatthe acknowledgement is not to be transmitted, the transceiver isconfigured to transmit the SR using the at least one SR resource andwherein if the CQI is to be transmitted the CQI is not transmitted andthe at least one additional resource such as a DNA resource is unused,wherein in response to the processor determining that the SR is to betransmitted and that the acknowledgement is to be transmitted, thetransceiver is configured to transmit the acknowledgement using the atleast one SR resource and wherein if the CQI is to be transmitted theCQI is not transmitted and the at least one additional resource such asa DNA resource is unused.

An apparatus as above, wherein a periodic CQI transmission and aperiodic SR transmission are configured by the processor into differentsub-frames. An apparatus as in any above, wherein transmissions aretransmitted by the transceiver on a PUCCH. An apparatus as in any above,wherein transmissions are transmitted by the transceiver on an UL. Anapparatus as in any above, wherein if transmitted by the transceiver theacknowledgement comprises an unmodulated sequence 1, BPSK/QPSK-modulatedsequence 2. An apparatus as in any above, wherein the apparatuscomprises a UE or terminal. An apparatus as in any above, wherein theapparatus comprises a node of a wireless communication network. Anapparatus as in any above, wherein the apparatus comprises a node of anE-UTRAN.

In another non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, an apparatus comprising:means for transmitting at least one of an acknowledgement and a channelquality indicator (CQI), wherein the transmission comprises at least onescheduling request (SR) resource and at least one additional resourcewhich may be a data-non-associated (DNA) resource, such as ACK/NACKPUCCH or CQI PUCCH; means for determining whether a SR is to betransmitted; means for determining whether the acknowledgement is to betransmitted; and means for determining whether the CQI is to betransmitted, wherein in response to the processor determining that theSR is not to be transmitted and that the acknowledgement is to betransmitted, the means for transmitting is further for transmitting theacknowledgement using a corresponding at least one acknowledgementresource of the at least one additional resource such as a DNA resourceand wherein the at least one SR resource is unused, wherein in responseto the processor determining that the SR is not to be transmitted andthat the CQI is to be transmitted, the means for transmitting is furtherfor transmitting the CQI using a corresponding at least one CQI resourceof the at least one additional resource such as a DNA resource andwherein the at least one SR resource is unused, wherein in response tothe processor determining that the SR is to be transmitted and that theacknowledgement is not to be transmitted, the means for transmitting isfurther for transmitting the SR using the at least one SR resource andwherein if the CQI is to be transmitted the CQI is not transmitted andthe at least one additional resource such as a DNA resource is unused,wherein in response to the processor determining that the SR is to betransmitted and that the acknowledgement is to be transmitted, the meansfor transmitting is further for transmitting the acknowledgement usingthe at least one SR resource and wherein if the CQI is to be transmittedthe CQI is not transmitted and the at least one additional resource suchas a DNA resource is unused.

An apparatus as above, wherein the means for transmitting comprises atransmitter and the means for determining whether the SR is to betransmitted, the means for determining whether the acknowledgement is tobe transmitted and the means for determining whether the CQI is to betransmitted comprise a processor.

In another non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, and as illustrated inFIG. 8, a method includes: receiving a transmission comprising at leastone scheduling request (SR) resource and at least one other resourcewhich may be a data-non-associated (DNA) resource (box 81); such asACK/NACK PUCCH or CQI PUCCH; in response to determining that the atleast one SR resource is unused, determining that the transmission doesnot comprise a SR (box 82); in response to determining that the at leastone SR resource is unused and that at least one acknowledgement resourceof the at least one other resource such as a DNA resource is used,determining that the transmission comprises an acknowledgement andobtaining acknowledgement information from the acknowledgement (box 83);in response to determining that the at least one SR resource is unusedand that at least one channel quality indicator (CQI) resource of the atleast one additional resource such as a DNA resource is used,determining that the transmission comprises a CQI (or CQI+ACK/NACK) andobtaining CQI (or CQI+ACK/NACK) information from the CQI (box 84); inresponse to determining that the at least one SR resource is used,determining that the transmission comprises a SR (box 85); in responseto determining that the at least one SR resource is used by anacknowledgement, determining that the transmission comprises a SR andobtaining acknowledgement information from the acknowledgement (box 86);and responding accordingly to the determination(s) and/or obtainedinformation (box 87).

A method as above, wherein a periodic CQI transmission and a periodic SRtransmission are configured into different sub-frames. A method as inany above, wherein the transmission is received on a PUCCH. A method asin any above, wherein the transmission is received on an UL. A method asin any above, wherein if received the acknowledgement comprises anunmodulated sequence 1, BPSK/QPSK-modulated sequence 2. A method as inany above, wherein the method is implemented by a base station ornetwork element. A method as in any above, wherein the method isimplemented within a wireless communication network. A method as in anyabove, wherein the method is implemented within an E-UTRAN. A method asin any above, wherein the method is implemented by a computer program. Amethod as in any above, wherein the method is implemented by a processorof a network element.

In another non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, a computer programproduct comprises program instructions embodied on a tangiblecomputer-readable medium. Execution of the program instructions resultsin operations comprising: receiving a transmission comprising at leastone scheduling request (SR) resource and at least one additionalresource which may be a data-non-associated (DNA) resource, such asACK/NACK PUCCH or CQI PUCCH; in response to determining that the atleast one SR resource is unused, determining that the transmission doesnot comprise a SR; in response to determining that the at least one SRresource is unused and that at least one acknowledgement resource of theat least one additional resource such as a DNA resource is used,determining that the transmission comprises an acknowledgement andobtaining acknowledgement information from the acknowledgement; inresponse to determining that the at least one SR resource is unused andthat at least one channel quality indicator (CQI) resource of the atleast one additional resource such as a DNA resource is used,determining that the transmission comprises a CQI and obtaining CQIinformation from the CQI; in response to determining that the at leastone SR resource is used, determining that the transmission comprises aSR; in response to determining that the at least one SR resource is usedby an acknowledgement, determining that the transmission comprises a SRand obtaining acknowledgement information from the acknowledgement; andresponding accordingly to the determination(s) and/or obtainedinformation.

A computer program as above, wherein a periodic CQI transmission and aperiodic SR transmission are configured into different sub-frames. Acomputer program as in any above, wherein the transmission is receivedon a PUCCH. A computer program as in any above, wherein the transmissionis received on an UL. A computer program as in any above, wherein ifreceived the acknowledgement comprises an unmodulated sequence 1,BPSK/QPSK-modulated sequence 2. A computer program as in any above,wherein the method is implemented by a base station or network element.A computer program as in any above, wherein the computer program isimplemented within a wireless communication network. A computer programas in any above, wherein the computer program is implemented within anE-UTRAN.

In another non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, an apparatus comprising:a receiver configured to receive a transmission comprising at least onescheduling request (SR) resource and at least one additional resourcewhich may be a data-non-associated (DNA) resource, such as ACK/NACKPUCCH or CQI PUCCH; and a processor configured, in response todetermining that the at least one SR resource is unused, to determinethat the transmission does not comprise a SR, in response to determiningthat the at least one SR resource is unused and that at least oneacknowledgement resource of the at least one additional resource such asa DNA resource is used, to determine that the transmission comprises anacknowledgement and to obtain acknowledgement information from theacknowledgement, in response to determining that the at least one SRresource is unused and that at least one channel quality indicator (CQI)resource of the at least one DNA resource is used, to determine that thetransmission comprises a CQI and to obtain CQI information from the CQI,in response to determining that the at least one SR resource is used, todetermine that the transmission comprises a SR, in response todetermining that the at least one SR resource is used by anacknowledgement, to determine that the transmission comprises a SR andto obtain acknowledgement information from the acknowledgement, and torespond accordingly to the determination(s) and/or obtained information.

An apparatus as above, wherein a periodic CQI transmission and aperiodic SR transmission are configured by the processor into differentsub-frames. An apparatus as in any above, wherein transmissions arereceived by the receiver on a PUCCH. An apparatus as in any above,wherein transmissions are received by the receiver on an UL. Anapparatus as in any above, wherein if received by the receiver theacknowledgement comprises an unmodulated sequence 1, BPSK/QPSK-modulatedsequence 2. An apparatus as in any above, wherein the apparatuscomprises a base station or network element. An apparatus as in anyabove, wherein the apparatus comprises a node of a wirelesscommunication network. An apparatus as in any above, wherein theapparatus comprises a node of an E-UTRAN.

In another non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, an apparatus comprising:means for receiving a transmission comprising at least one schedulingrequest (SR) resource and at least one additional resource which may bea data-non-associated (DNA) resource, such as ACK/NACK PUCCH or CQIPUCCH; means for determining, in response to determining that the atleast one SR resource is unused, that the transmission does not comprisea SR, means for determining, in response to determining that the atleast one SR resource is unused and that at least one acknowledgementresource of the at least one additional resource such as a DNA resourceis used, that the transmission comprises an acknowledgement and toobtain acknowledgement information from the acknowledgement, means fordetermining, in response to determining that the at least one SRresource is unused and that at least one channel quality indicator (CQI)resource of the at least one additional resource such as a DNA resourceis used, that the transmission comprises a CQI and to obtain CQIinformation from the CQI, means for determining, in response todetermining that the at least one SR resource is used, that thetransmission comprises a SR; means for determining, in response todetermining that the at least one SR resource is used by anacknowledgement, that the transmission comprises a SR and to obtainacknowledgement information from the acknowledgement, and means forresponding accordingly to the determination(s) and/or obtainedinformation.

An apparatus as above, wherein the means for receiving comprises areceiver and the means for determining/obtaining and the means forresponding comprise a processor.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention, and asillustrated in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, there is a method, executablecomputer program, and apparatus configured for operations determiningthat a scheduling request resource and at least one other resource arereserved for a user equipment in a same sub-frame (box 910); and basedon whether a scheduling request is desired to be transmitted by the userequipment, placing at least one of an acknowledgment/negativeacknowledgement and a channel quality indicator that is desired to betransmitted by the user equipment in one of the resources and leaving atleast one other resource unused (box 920). The method, executablecomputer program, and apparatus as above where the scheduling requestresource and the at least one other resource are physical uplink controlchannel resources (box 930). Further, as method as in any of the abovecomprising for the case where the user equipment desires to transmit ascheduling request and transmit an acknowledgment/negativeacknowledgement, transmitting the acknowledgment/negativeacknowledgement with the scheduling request on the scheduling requestresource and leaving the at least one other resource unused, or for thecase where the user equipment does not desire to transmit a schedulingrequest and does desire to transmit an acknowledgment/negativeacknowledgement, transmitting the acknowledgment/negativeacknowledgement on the at least one other resource and leaving thescheduling request resource unused (box 940). The method, executablecomputer program, and apparatus as above for the case where the userequipment desires to transmit a scheduling request and a channel qualityindicator but no acknowledgment/negative acknowledgement, transmittingthe scheduling request on the scheduling request resource, nottransmitting the channel quality indicator, and leaving the at least oneother resource unused (box 950). Further, The method, executablecomputer program, and apparatus as above for the case where the userequipment desires to transmit a scheduling request, transmit a channelquality indicator, and transmit an acknowledgment/negativeacknowledgement, transmitting the acknowledgment/negativeacknowledgement with the scheduling request on the scheduling requestresource, not transmitting the channel quality indicator, and leavingthe at least one other resource unused, or for the case where the userequipment does not desire to transmit a scheduling request and doesdesire to transmit a channel quality indicator and anacknowledgment/negative acknowledgement, transmitting theacknowledgment/negative acknowledgement and the channel qualityindicator on the at least one other resource and leaving the schedulingrequest resource unused (box 960).

The method, executable computer program, and apparatus as above wherethe scheduling request information is conveyed based on a selectedphysical uplink control channel selection.

Further in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the inventionthere is a method, executable computer program, and apparatus configuredfor operations comprising determining the PUCCH resource to be used inthe case where at least one of two resources, ACK/NACK resource(ACK/NACK PUCCH) and CQI resource (CQI PUCCH) are reserved by the sameUE in the same sub-frame with the scheduling request resource (SRPUCCH). The method, executable computer program, and apparatus as aboveoperational for the case where there is a positive scheduling request,transmitting the acknowledgment with the scheduling request on thescheduling request resource (SR PUCCH) and leaving ACK/NACK PUCCHresource unused and, for the case where there is a negative schedulingrequest, transmitting the acknowledgment (ACK/NACK) on the originalACK/NACK resource (ACK/NACK PUCCH) and leaving SR PUCCH resource unused.The method, executable computer program, and apparatus as above for acase where a channel quality indicator is also to be sent and thecorresponding CQI PUCCH resource is being reserved, and for the case ofpositive scheduling request with CQI but without ACK/NACK, transmittingthe scheduling request on the SR PUCCH resource and not transmitting thechannel quality indicator (CQI PUCCH resource is unused), and for thecase of positive scheduling request with CQI and ACK/NACK, transmittingACK/NACK on the scheduling request resource (SR PUCCH) and nottransmitting the channel quality indicator at all (CQI PUCCH andACK/NACK PUCCH resources are left unused), and for the case of negativescheduling request, transmitting the channel quality indicator andpossible ACK/NACK on the original CQI PUCCH resource. The method,executable computer program, and apparatus as above where the schedulingrequest information is conveyed based on selected PUCCH resource.

While the exemplary embodiments have been described above in the contextof the E-UTRAN (UTRAN-LTE) system, it should be appreciated that theexemplary embodiments of this invention are not limited for use withonly this one particular type of wireless communication system, and thatthey may be used to advantage in other wireless communication systems.

The exemplary embodiments of the invention, as discussed above and asparticularly described with respect to exemplary methods, may beimplemented as a computer program product comprising programinstructions embodied on a tangible computer-readable medium. Executionof the program instructions results in operations comprising steps ofutilizing the exemplary embodiments or steps of the method.

It should be noted that the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variantthereof, mean any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect,between two or more elements, and may encompass the presence of one ormore intermediate elements between two elements that are “connected” or“coupled” together. The coupling or connection between the elements canbe physical, logical, or a combination thereof. As employed herein twoelements may be considered to be “connected” or “coupled” together bythe use of one or more wires, cables and/or printed electricalconnections, as well as by the use of electromagnetic energy, such aselectromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency region,the microwave region and the optical (both visible and invisible)region, as several non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware orspecial purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof.For example, some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while otheraspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executedby a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although theinvention is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the inventionmay be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, orusing some other pictorial representation, it is well understood thatthese blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described hereinmay be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software,firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware orcontroller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

Embodiments of the inventions may be practiced in various componentssuch as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits isby and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful softwaretools are available for converting a logic level design into asemiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on asemiconductor substrate.

Programs, such as those provided by Synopsys, Inc. of Mountain View,Calif. and Cadence Design, of San Jose, Calif. automatically routeconductors and locate components on a semiconductor chip using wellestablished rules of design as well as libraries of pre-stored designmodules. Once the design for a semiconductor circuit has been completed,the resultant design, in a standardized electronic format (e.g., Opus,GDSII, or the like) may be transmitted to a semiconductor fabricationfacility or “fab” for fabrication.

The foregoing description has provided by way of exemplary andnon-limiting examples a full and informative description of theinvention. However, various modifications and adaptations may becomeapparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoingdescription, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings andthe appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of theteachings of this invention will still fall within the scope of thisinvention.

Furthermore, some of the features of the preferred embodiments of thisinvention could be used to advantage without the corresponding use ofother features. As such, the foregoing description should be consideredas merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, and not inlimitation thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining that anacknowledgment is to be sent on a physical uplink control channel, wheretransmission of the acknowledgement on the physical uplink controlchannel comprises an unmodulated sequence in addition to theacknowledgement data; and for a case where there is also a schedulingrequest to be sent, combining the acknowledgment with the schedulingrequest on a scheduling resource, else placing the acknowledgment inanother resource.
 2. The method of claim 1, comprising: for the casewhere there is also the scheduling request to be sent, transmitting theacknowledgment with the scheduling request on the scheduling resource.3. The method of claim 1, comprising: for a case where a channel qualityindicator is also to be sent, the channel quality indicator is not sentand the another resource is unused.
 4. The method of claim 1, where theanother resource is a data-non-associated resource.
 5. The method ofclaim 2, where the transmitting is on a physical uplink control channel.6. The method of claim 2, where the transmitting is on an uplink.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, where the unmodulated sequence comprises referencesignals and the acknowledgement data comprises a BPSK/QPSK modulatedsequence.
 8. The method of claim 1 implemented in a wirelesscommunications network.
 9. The method of claim 1 implemented in anevolved universal terrestrial radio access network.
 10. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium encoded with a computer program executable by aprocessor to perform actions comprising: determining that anacknowledgment is to be sent on a physical uplink control channel, wheretransmission of the acknowledgement on the physical uplink controlchannel comprises an unmodulated sequence in addition to theacknowledgement data; and for a case where there is also a schedulingrequest to be sent, combining the acknowledgment with the schedulingrequest on a scheduling resource, else placing the acknowledgment inanother resource.
 11. The non-transitory computer readable mediumencoded with a computer program of claim 10, comprising: for the casewhere there is also the scheduling request to be sent, transmitting theacknowledgment with the scheduling request on the scheduling resource.12. The non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computerprogram of claim 10, comprising: for a case where a channel qualityindicator is also to be sent, the channel quality indicator is not sentand the another resource is unused.
 13. The non-transitory computerreadable medium encoded with a computer program of claim 10, where theanother resource is a data-non-associated resource.
 14. An apparatuscomprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory includingcomputer program code, where the at least one memory and the computerprogram code are configured, with the at least one processor, to causethe apparatus to at least: determine that an acknowledgment is to besent on a physical link control channel where transmission of theacknowledgement on the physical uplink control channel comprises anunmodulated sequence in addition to the acknowledgement data; and for acase where there is also a scheduling request to be sent, combine theacknowledgment with the scheduling request on a scheduling resource,else placing the acknowledgment in another resource.
 15. The apparatusof claim 14, where the at least one memory including the computerprogram code is configured with the at least one processor to cause theapparatus, for the case where there is also the scheduling request to besent, to transmit the acknowledgment with the scheduling request on thescheduling resource.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, where the at leastone memory including the computer program code is configured with the atleast one processor to cause the apparatus, for a case where a channelquality indicator is also to be sent, to drop the channel qualityindicator such that it is not sent and the another resource is unused.17. The apparatus of claim 14, where the another resource is adata-non-associated resource.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, where theacknowledgment with the scheduling request is transmitted on a physicaluplink control channel.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, where thetransmitter is configured to transmit the acknowledgment with thescheduling request on an uplink.
 20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherethe unmodulated sequence comprises reference signals and theacknowledgement data comprises a BPSK/QPSK modulated sequence.
 21. Theapparatus of claim 14, embodied in a user equipment.
 22. The apparatusof claim 14, configured to operate in a wireless communications network.23. The apparatus of claim 14 configured to operate in an evolveduniversal terrestrial radio access network.
 24. A method comprising:receiving information on a scheduling resource on a physical uplinkcontrol channel; and determining that the information received on thescheduling resource comprises an acknowledgment transmission, where theacknowledgement transmission comprises an unmodulated sequence inaddition to acknowledgement data, and where the acknowledgmenttransmission is communicated on the scheduling resource if there is alsoa scheduling request combined with the acknowledgment transmission onthe scheduling resource, else the acknowledgment transmission iscommunicated on another resource.
 25. The method of claim 24, comprisingresponding accordingly to the determining that the information receivedon the scheduling resource comprises the acknowledgment.
 26. The methodof claim 24 where the information is received from a wirelesscommunications network.
 27. The method of claim 24 where the informationis received from an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network.28. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computerprogram executable by a processor to perform actions comprising:receiving information on a scheduling resource on a physical uplinkcontrol channel; and determining that the information received on thescheduling resource comprises an acknowledgment transmission, where thetransmission comprises an unmodulated sequence in addition toacknowledgement data, and where the acknowledgment transmission iscommunicated on the scheduling resource if there is also a schedulingrequest combined with the acknowledgment transmission on the schedulingresource, else the acknowledgment transmission is communicated onanother resource.
 29. The non-transitory computer readable mediumencoded with a computer program of claim 28, comprising respondingaccordingly to the determining that the information received on thescheduling resource comprises the acknowledgment.
 30. An apparatuscomprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory includingcomputer program code, where the at least one memory and the computerprogram code are configured, with the at least one processor, to causethe apparatus to at least: receive information on a scheduling resourceon a physical uplink control channel; and determine that the informationreceived on the scheduling resource comprises an acknowledgment datatransmission, where the acknowledgement data transmission comprises anunmodulated sequence in addition to acknowledgment data, and where theacknowledgment data transmission is communicated on the schedulingresource if there is also a scheduling request combined with theacknowledgment data transmission on the scheduling resource, else theacknowledgment data transmission is communicated on another resource.31. The apparatus of claim 30, where the at least one memory includingthe computer program code is configured with the at least one processorto cause the apparatus to respond accordingly to the determining thatthe information received on the scheduling resource comprises theacknowledgment data transmission.
 32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherethe at least one memory including the computer program code isconfigured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus toreceive the information from a wireless communications network.
 33. Theapparatus of claim 30 where the at least one memory including thecomputer program code is configured with the at least one processor tocause the apparatus to receive the information from an evolved universalterrestrial radio access network.
 34. A method comprising: determiningthat a scheduling request resource and at least one other resource arereserved for a user equipment in a same sub-frame; and based on whethera scheduling request is desired to be transmitted by the user equipment,placing at least one of an acknowledgment/negative acknowledgement and achannel quality indicator that is desired to be transmitted by the userequipment in one of the resources and leaving at least one otherresource unused, where the transmission is to comprise an unmodulatedsequence in addition to the acknowledgement data.
 35. The method ofclaim 34, where the scheduling request resource and the at least oneother resource are physical uplink control channel resources.
 36. Themethod of claim 34 comprising: for a case where the user equipmentdesires to transmit a scheduling request and transmit anacknowledgment/negative acknowledgement, transmitting theacknowledgment/negative acknowledgement with the scheduling request onthe scheduling request resource and leaving the at least one otherresource unused; or for a case where the user equipment does not desireto transmit a scheduling request and does desire to transmit anacknowledgment/negative acknowledgement, transmitting theacknowledgment/negative acknowledgement on the at least one otherresource and leaving the scheduling request resource unused.
 37. Themethod of claim 34 comprising: for a case where the user equipmentdesires to transmit a scheduling request and a channel quality indicatorbut no acknowledgment/negative acknowledgement, transmitting thescheduling request on the scheduling request resource and nottransmitting the channel quality indicator leaving the at least oneother resource unused.
 38. The method of claim 34 comprising: for a casewhere the user equipment desires to transmit a scheduling request,transmit a channel quality indicator, and transmit anacknowledgment/negative acknowledgement, transmitting theacknowledgment/negative acknowledgement with the scheduling request onthe scheduling request resource and not transmitting the channel qualityindicator leaving the at least one other resource unused; or for a casewhere the user equipment does not desire to transmit a schedulingrequest and does desire to transmit a channel quality indicator and anacknowledgment/negative acknowledgement, transmitting theacknowledgment/negative acknowledgement and the channel qualityindicator on the at least one other resource and leaving the schedulingrequest resource unused.
 39. The method of claim 34, where thescheduling request information is conveyed based on a selected physicaluplink control channel selection.
 40. A method comprising: determiningthat an acknowledgment transmission is to be sent; and for a case wherethere is also a scheduling request to be sent, transmitting theacknowledgment data with the scheduling request on a scheduling resourcein an uplink, where there is no need to specify a separate modulation ormultiplexing operation used for transmission of the acknowledgement datawith the scheduling request, from a modulation or multiplexing operationused for transmission of the acknowledgement on another resource. 41.The method of claim 40, comprising: transmitting the acknowledgment withthe scheduling request on the scheduling resource.
 42. The method ofclaim 41, where the transmitting is on a physical uplink controlchannel.
 43. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and atleast one memory including computer program code, where the at least onememory and the computer program code are configured, with the at leastone processor, to cause the apparatus to at least: determine that anacknowledgment transmission is to be sent; and for a case where there isalso a scheduling request to be sent, transmit the acknowledgment withthe scheduling request on a scheduling resource in an uplink, wherethere is no need to specify a separate modulation or multiplexingoperation used for transmission of the acknowledgement with thescheduling request, from a modulation or multiplexing operation used fortransmission of the acknowledgement on another resource.
 44. Theapparatus of claim 43, where the at least one memory including thecomputer program code is configured with the at least one processor tocause the apparatus to transmit the acknowledgment with the schedulingrequest on the scheduling resource.
 45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherethe transmitting is on a physical uplink control channel.